E-Book Overview
Complementing our enormously successful offerings on the bible and history, National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology encompasses myths and creation stories from around the globe. It presents a palm-size overview of culture-defining myths, from ancient Egyptian deities to the Vedic gods of India...from Maya, Inca, and Aztec legends to the Dream time of the Aborigines. This is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to know more about the stories that have shaped societies for millennia. The innovative format with timelines, sidebars, and self-contained interactive spreads gives readers a variety of entry points depending on their interest level. The editors of the Essential series have enhanced this book’s resource value by including such elements as numbered picture references that match each image with its historical era as discussed in the text, and cross references to related topics at the bottom of the page. Conveniently sized yet large in scope, it reflects National Geographic’s authority and credibility in the category of world culture and peoples.Those fascinated by Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, a classic backlist title on the Greek myths, will find this illustrated world survey richly satisfying. Accessible, absorbing, and affordable, it will delight casual browsers and mythology buffs alike and the very attractive retail price of $15.95, for a 500+-page lavishly illustrated hardcover, makes National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology an irresistible treasure to own and to give.
E-Book Content
National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology National Geographic Essential Visual History of World Mythology o NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Washington, D.C. • Table of Contents 12 Elements of the Book ID Ancient Near Eastern Mythology Hierarchy ofthe Ancient Near Eastern gods, see p. 31 16 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 Introduction The Creation of the Un iverse The Creation of Humanity Divine Bri ngers of Culture The Battle of the Gods The Flood An and Enlil Enki The Tower of Babel Nanna Inana/lshtar Utu/Shamash Marduk and Assur The Underworld The Epic of Gilgamesh Naram-Sin Teshub and Kumarbi EI and Baal Ahura Mazda Ormuzd and Ariman Mithra m Egyptian Mythology 62 Introduction Thoth invents hieroglyphics, see p. 99 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 The Great Mystery of the Pyramids Heliopolitan and Hermopolitan Theogonies Memphite Theogony Geb and Nut Osiris Isis Seth Horus Deified Rulers and Other Mortals Amun-Re Temple of Luxor Aten Hathor 94 96 98 100 102 104 • Anubis Journey Through the Underworld Thoth Khnum Maat Animal Gods 1m Greek Mythology 108 1 14 116 1 18 120 122 124 126 128 130 132 134 136 138 140 142 144 146 148 150 152 154 156 158 160 162 164 166 168 170 172 174 176 178 I n troduction Gaia and Uranus The Titans The War of the Giants Zeus Zeus Pandora's Box Hera Poseidon Demeter Apollo The Oracle of Delphi A rtemis Athena Ares Aphrodite Birth of Aphrodite Eros Hermes Hephaestus Hestia Hades and Persephone The Underworld Orpheus Dionysus The Dionysia Heracles Prometheus Cultural Heroes Sisyphus Nymphs and Muses Monsters and Gia nts Magical Creatures Minos and the Minotaur ,W �. .; y;j ,,... '�'.."... .. - .�.' �'� . .';(�, . .. " ..,. � . .. - " ; . , ' _- � Persephone and the pomegranate seed, see p. 154 • 180 Perseus 182 186 188 190 Ovid's Metamorphoses, seep. 212 Jason and